WHY Wednesdays - Community Programs

July 23, 2014

To strengthen our partnerships in order to build a healthier Milwaukee, to meet our members where they are and to inspire Jewish journeys.

Over the last year the JCC has held numerous community celebrations and events.

This past fall, our JCC collaborated with local synagogues, schools, youth groups, social action groups and community agencies to hold the 2013 Thanksgivukkah event - the Hanukkah Time Machine! Volunteers from all of the partner agencies staffed interactive booths representing Hanukkah at different times in History. Groups worked together to make a program that was cohesive, educational and a lot of fun! The program also featured booths run by local businesses like The White House of Music Instrument Exploration station, Mad Science's presentation of oil and potato science as well as art projects presented by the Milwaukee Art Museum's Kohl's Color Wheels and Jazaele's Art Studio.

This past spring, the JCC partnered with the Nathan & Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center and the Milwaukee Jewish Federation's Israel Center to bring the Yamim 2014 - Journey of a People to reality. As Jews, we are survivors. At Yom HaShoah and Yom HaZikaron, we mourn those who died, and we give renewed respect to those who survived. The PEW study tells us that remembering the Holocaust is essential to being Jewish. With thought provoking speakers and a teen program of close to 50 participants, our Yom HaShoah program was a beautiful start to the Yamim. Yom HaZikaron gave special honor to Ethiopian Jews who serve in the IDF. As Jews, we do not choose the path of bitterness and despair. Rather, we recommit ourselves to life. The Yamim ended as strong as it started. Yom Ha'atzmaut brought Israel to Milwaukee and showed that we can bring the community together. These agencies strengthen our ties to Israel and to her people.